Abstract
This study focuses on variation in reproductive systems in Acer (maple) species, and how Acer might be a useful genus for understanding floral morphology and the evolution of these highly variable systems. The goals were (1) to conduct a survey of reproductive characters in the genus Acer with an emphasis on floral morphometrics of A. ginnala Maxim., A. tataricum L., and the hybrid A. ginnala × tataricum and (2) present a compilation of the reproductive biology of Acer based on the literature and online information. Morphometric analyses showed that the hybrid A. ginnala × tataricum exhibits intermediacy in vegetative morphology and some floral traits compared to the parents. Literature and an online survey revealed some information on the reproductive biology of 40 Acer species, plus the hybrid, representing only 32.3% of the taxonomic diversity. The reproductive modes of Acer include monoecy, dioecy, trioecy, andromonoecy, androdioecy, and andropolygamy, with a trend towards unisexuality. Temporal patterns of maturation of reproductive parts revealed duodichogamy, heterodichogamy, simultaneous, and dichogamy. The pollination syndrome is entomophilous, anemophilous, and ambophilous. We conclude that the evolutionary and geographic success of Acer lie in the versatility of sexual systems, diverse modes of maturation of reproductive organs, reproductive success, and the ability to colonise wider areas.
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Acknowledgements
We thank Dr. Carlos E.P. Nunes and two anonymous reviewers for their valuable feedback to improve the manuscript. We thank the Government of Canada and the Emerging Leaders of the Americas Program (ELAP) for awarding a scholarship to A. Rosado. We are indebted to Peter Stevens, Dewey Litwiller, and personnel of the Cota-Sánchez’ Plant Systematics Laboratory (C. Gutiérrez-Flores and D. Falconer) for their insights, critical comments, and proof reading of early drafts of the manuscript. M. Mierau and G. Liu provided technical support. We also express our gratitude to the curators of DAO and SASK for providing herbarium material for investigation. This research was partially supported by funding from the Flora of Saskatchewan Association and the University of Saskatchewan Bridge Fund to JHCS.
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A.R. conducted fieldwork, gathered and analysed macro- and micromorphological data and contributed to analyses, writing, and discussion of manuscript. R.V.V. assisted in fieldwork, conducted statistical analyses, and contributed to writing and discussion of manuscript. J.H.C.S. provided research funds, supervised the investigation, conducted fieldwork, gathered data, and led the structure, writing, and discussion of manuscript.
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Summary of results of the Generalised Linear Mixed Model (GLMM) using Poisson distribution and Log link function to analyse the number of flowers per Acer species and the GLMM using Normal distribution and Identity link function to analyse flower diameter, flower height, stamen height, and stigma height (only for hermaphrodite flowers) in the Acer species (DOCX 104 kb)
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Rosado, A., Vera-Vélez, R. & Cota-Sánchez, J.H. Floral morphology and reproductive biology in selected maple (Acer L.) species (Sapindaceae). Braz. J. Bot 41, 361–374 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40415-018-0452-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40415-018-0452-1